Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time winner gave Real Madrid a thrilling 3-2 victory over bitter rivals Barcelona in El Clasico and all-but secured LaLiga glory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Barca headed into the final Clasico of head coach Xavi’s reign at the Santiago Bernabeu knowing only a win would realistically keep their title hopes alive, given Madrid held an eight-point lead at the top of LaLiga with seven games remaining.
Andreas Christensen headed the visitors into a sixth-minute lead from Raphinha’s in-swinging corner and Madrid struggled with their rivals’ set-piece threat throughout the first half.
They levelled from the penalty spot after some excellent work from Lucas Vazquez took Joao Cancelo out of the equation and drew a foul from teenage centre-back Pau Cubarsi. Vinicius Junior drilled hard and low past Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s dive to score his seventh goal in this famous fixture.
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona live score 1st Half Goalscorers Madrid 3 Vinicius (p) 18', Lucas 73', Bellingham 90+1' Barca 2 Christensen 6', Fermin 69'Lineups:
Real Madrid (4-3-3): 13. Andriy Lunin (GK) — 17. Lucas Vazquez, 18, Aurelien Tchouameni, 22. Antonio Rudiger, 12. Eduardo Camavinga (20. Fran Garcia) — 8. Toni Kroos (Eder Militao), 10. Luka Modric — 15. Federico Valverde, 5. Jude Bellingham, 11. Rodrygo (21. Brahim Diaz) — 7. Vinicius Junior.
Barcelona (4-3-3): 1. Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) — 23. Jules Kounde, 4. Ronald Araujo, 33. Pau Cubarsi, 2. Joao Cancelo — 21. Frenkie de Jong (8. Pedri), 15. Andreas Christensen (16 Fermin Lopez), 22. Ilkay Gundogan — 27. Lamine Yamal, 9. Robert Lewandowski (7. Ferran Torres), 11. Raphinha (14. Joao Felix).
MORE: Where to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Xavi kept probing with proactive substitutions, even replacing Robert Lewandowski after his star striker’s latest ineffective performance. Two of the substitutes combined for Barca’s second, with Ferran Torres dummying a cross from the excellent Yamine Lamal that Andriy Lunin could only push into the path of Fermin Lopez.
Fermin milked his moment in front of the Madrid fans, only for the hosts to equalise in quick time. Again Cancelo was culpable as Los Blancos stalwart Lucas caught him napping to crash home from Vinicius’ cross.
The moment belonged to Bellingham. Of course it did. With Barca players committed upfield, sub Brahim Diaz drove at their tiring defence. He fed Lucas and one of the club’s longest-serving players crossed to its newest hero.
Bellingham steered into the top corner left-footed for his 21st goal of the season, sparking bedlam inside the Bernabeu and driving Madrid to the cusp of their 36th LaLiga title.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 21, 2024 Real Madrid vs. Barcelona analysis Jude Bellingham: Clasico AnimalIt takes something special to write yourself so quickly and so prominently into the folklore of this fixture. Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t score and neither did any of his Madrid teammates as he lost his first three Clasicos in La Liga. He wasn't able to celebrate taking three points off Barca until the sixth attempt.
Bellingham truly is the exception. He scored both Madrid goals in Barcelona earlier this season when Ancelotti’s men came from 1-0 down. That winning goal also came in injury time.
The England international didn’t paint himself so prominently over the occasion. This winner was his first goal since February 10, having grappled with injury and suspension since. During both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City, the eye-catching moments were outweighed by Bellingham chasing the ball around. Against another technically excellent side, the same was true for long periods here.
Becoming a man who can confidently dictate the midfield terms is the next step for Bellingham. It might even be an absurd demand to make of a 20-year-old, but then he’s not just any old 20-year-old. To have both a sense for and an ability to execute in the biggest moments is a rare gift. Barcelona must already be sick of the sight of him.
Lamine Yamal shows Barca there can be life after XaviIt’s been an extremely bruising week for Barcelona. Dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain after Ronald Araujo was sent off and now the title ceded to their greatest enemies. But Xavi will leave them on an upward trajectory. He steadied and righted the course of a club that diced with financial peril off the pitch and had lost identity on it.
The bank accounts still don’t look great, in all honesty, but the latest crop of La Masia academy graduates promise better days to come. Yamal is probably the best of the lot. The 16-year-old makes Bellingham look like a gnarly veteran and he put years on Eduardo Camavinga, who will want to make sure he’s secured a place in midfield for the next Clasico after this ordeal at left-back.
Yamal, fellow teenager Cubarsi, Pedri, and Gavi can be the heart and soul of a Barca team facing up to a new Galacticos era in the capital, with Kylian Mbappe expected to land next season. Such lavish transfers are not on the agenda in Catalonia, but more shrewd acquisitions such as Ilkay Gundogan and Andreas Christensen to help the bright young things along should be achievable. Xavi has shown the way for his successor.
MORE: Where to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Real Madrid vs Barcelona stats Madrid Stat Barca 14 Shots 15 8 Shots on target 6 46% Possession 54% 476 Passes 528 2 Corners 8 11 Fouls 12 3 Yellow cards 2 1 Offsides 2 Real Madrid vs. Barcelona live updates, highlights, and commentary FulltimeReal Madrid were behind twice but Barcelona could never shake them. Then Jude Bellingham, of course it was him, rammed home the stoppage-time winner that will see Madrid crowned champions. It's not mathematically over but Carlo Ancelotti's men are not going to let an 11-point lead slip with six games remaining.
90th minute+5: Rudiger heads clear from Kounde's cross. Celebrates like it's a goal. Thatr's surely it?
90th minute+4: Corner from Gundogan, Joao Felix shoots into the crowd.
90th minute+1: GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!! Jude Bellingham!!!!!!
Barcaneed to win, a draw is no good for them, but it leaves them exposed as Brahim drives forward. Lucas puts in the low cross - what a game he's had - and Bellingham arrives to smashing his 21st goal of the season into the top corner. That's the goal that effectively wins LaLiga. What a moment.
89th minute: Cubarsi booked for a tactical foul on Bellingham. Those two probably have many, many more duels to come over the years.
87th minute: HOW HAVEN'T REAL MADRID SCORED??? Militao touches Modric's free-kick back across goal. Bellingham surely must convert...he doesn't. Then Joselu batters it wide. The flag is up. It's all going on.
84th minute: Gundogan in to Fermin, who produces a lovely, intricate turn inside the Madrid box, Fran Garcia gets back before he is able to get his shot off.
82nd minute: Vinicius makes way to a standing ovation. Joselu coming on. The Brazil star looks like he wanted to stay out there.
78th minute: Madrid deal with this corner and they're away from Lunin's long kick. Vinicius makes mincemeat of Pedri and charges towards goal. Ter Stegen stands up to make an excellent save.
???? BIG STOP! @mterstegen1 #LaLigaHighlights | #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/Hsv1zbJBWe
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 21, 202477th minute: Gundogan cuts a free-kick back to Fermin, whose shot is blocked. Pedroi floats one over that Gundogan yells for Joao Felix to leave. The Germany playmaker can't quite get it under his spell and Lucas hammers behind.
73rd minute: GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Lucas Vazquez!!!!
Barca's lead is short-lived. Vinicius spins a dangerous, bouncing cross towards the far post. It's made even more dangerous by Cancelo completely falling asleep and Lucas slams home. Such a tremendous servant to this club, Lucas has scored a massive goal in their bid to take the title.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 21, 202469th minute: GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Fermin Lopez!!!!
Ferran switches the ball out to Yamal and continues his run. The forward can't make contact but Lunin can only push the ball out for Fermin to finish. The Barca man then jumps over the hoardings to celebrate in front of the Madrid fans, which feels... bold.
FERMIN LOPEZ PUTS BARCA 2-1 AHEAD IN ELCLASICO AND CELEBRATES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REAL MADRID FANS ???? pic.twitter.com/lyHmUWtkZA
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 21, 202466th minute: Madrid want handball but that's hit Kounde in the stomach. Now Barca break, big chance for Ferran Torres but he scuffs wide! The offside flag then goes up but that would and could have been tight VAR check.
65th minute: Modric has a shot blocked. Madrid keep the attack going and win a corner. The veteran Croatian will take.
63rd minute: Fermin, who hasn't really been able to get into the game, slices well wide from range. Ferran and Joao Felix are coming on, with Raphinha and Lewandowski the men to make way.
62nd minute: Now Xavi's men go long, Araujo to Lewandowski. Lunin has wandered into an odd position but Lewandowski takes his shot early and it's way off target.
60th minute: Half an hour to go. It's Barca who need to find another gear with the situation in the table as it is.
56th minute: Modric breaks up a Barca attack in his own box, finds Bellingham and he launches one for Vinicius to chase. He's into the penalty area with Cubarsi for company and shoots off target.
53rd minute: Yamal is played in and sizes up Camavinga, He botches this one, though as the France international gets his foot in. Madrid break up the other end and work the attack to Lucas. Cancelo stands firm! Two good moments for a couple of full-backs who've had a bit of a torrid time.
50th minute: Bellingham twists and turns to fashion some room. Hammers towards goal left-footed but Ter Stegen sees it all the way. The England man howls in frustration.
46th minute: Early attack for Barca, with the now deep-lying Gundogan coming to join in before Yamal shoots at Lunin.
Kickoff: 2nd HalfWe're back underway and a change for Barca, with Fermin Lopez replacing the goalscorer Christensen. That means Gundogan will drop into a holding midfield position.
HalftimeBarca have been the better side but they probably need a bit more in open play, assuming Carlo Ancelotti reminds his players how to defend corners at the break. Xavi was forced into a change just then with De Jong unable to continue. How Ancelotti uses his bench will be key because there appears to be some tired bodies and minds out there after extra-time and penalties in midweek.
45th minute+6: Well, De Jong isn't going to make it through to halftime. He's leaving on a stretcher. In my defence, I never claimed to be medically qualified. Pedri coming on.
45th minute+4: De Jong is down on the turf and in a lot of pain. It looks like he hurt is ankle in a meaty challenge with Valverde. Barca will try to nurse him through to halftime if possible. But Pedri is warming up.
45th minute+2: Shocking giveaway from Christensen, who has his pocket picked by Bellingham deep in the Barca half. Vinicius looks to be in but he passes to Rodrygo. It's not a great ball and Christensen scrambles back to atone for his error.
45th minute: Gundogan, who has been strangely on the margins of this one, curls a free-kick onto the roof of the net. There will be four added minutes, mostly caused by all that faffing about LaLiga has to do because it doesn't have goalline technology.
44th minute: Rodrygo, who's switched over to the right, interchanges well with Bellingham. Now Valverde to Modric, whose shot from the edge of the box is saved by Ter Stegen.
40th minute: Madrid almost lead against the run of play! Lovely feet from Vinicius, who crosses with the outside of his foot and a sliding Rodrygo gets in front of Curbasi but can't get the decisive touch.
39th minute: Raphinha's latest corner scoots through the Madrid six-yard box with no one able to get a decisive touch. How much longer can this go on?
33rd minute: Camavinga does foul Yamal this time and is booked. Feels like he might have a long hour ahead of him. Raphinha whips the free-kick over the bar.
31st minute: Yamal flying at Camavinga, he goes down under a challenge from the Frenchman. There's minimal contact. I've seen them given but probably not against Real Madrid in El Clasico at the Bernabeu.
30th minute: No goal. Barca work this one short, nicely enough but Rudiger heads clear. Why wouldn't you just sling another into the box?
29th minute: VAR still having a look at this. I'm not sure there's a conclusive angle that can show Barca scored. I'm sure all involved will accept the decision with good grace.
28th minute: Raphinha's corner nicks off Yamal... has that squirmed over the line? No! Lunin all at sea again. What are Madrid doing?
25th minute: Madrid got enough practice defending corners in midweek. Are they missing Nacho? Gundogan's in-swinger from the left and Lewandowski heads just over.
18th minute: GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! Vinicius Junior!!!
Ter Stegen is moving all over his line, he guesses correctly down to his left but Vinicius' penalty is drilled hard and low into the net.
17th minute: PENALTY TO REAL MADRID! Lucas skips around Cancelo far too easily. Cubarsi anticipates the cross and sticks out a leg. Lucas obliges by going over it. Vinicius to take.
16th minute: Rodrygo looks to find Bellingham in the box but Christensen scampers in to clear.
14th minute: Kounde joins the attack to good effect again. Yamal get his first look at Camavinga and flies past him. Madrid clear behind for a corner. Raphinha changes up the angle with a short corner this time but gets his delivery all wrong.
13th minute: Kroos floats the ball in and Vinicius should do better! Heading not his strongest suit and Cubarsi applied enough pressure.
12th minute: Cancelo gave away a stupid penalty in midweek. This time he's foul Lucas right on the edge. Again, not the brightest idea.
11th minute: Lucas joins the Madrid attack but his cross in cleared by Cubarsi on his Clasico debut, Araujo gets in the way as Bellingham tries his luck.
8th minute: Almost an instant response for Madrid! Modric ghosts into the box to flick Rodrygo's chipped pass towards Vinicius, who fires over first time.
6th minute: GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Andreas Christensen!!!
Lunin gets himself caught underneath an inswinging delivery. Christensen gets up above Kroos and nods home to draw first blood for Barca. What a start! Manchester City kept hanging corners under Lunin's crossbar to no avail in midweek. Perhaps that was why!
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN OPENS THE SCORING IN ELCLASICO JUST SIX MINUTES INTO THE MATCH!!! ???? pic.twitter.com/Kc3DmwD3T9
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 21, 20245th minute: Kounde pressing high hustled Vinicius out of possession and Barca have the first corner of the match.
4th minute: Vinicius lets fly with a speculative attempt that Kounde blocks.
2nd minute: Dicey early moment for Lunin! The Real Madrid goalkeeper, under pressure, hits a clearance straight at Raphinha, who's unable to control.
Kickoff: 1st HalfHere we go. Will it be game on or game over in the LaLiga title race tonight?
5 mins before kickoff: Here come the players for one of the great occasions in world football.
20 mins before kickoff: Soto Grado has the perhaps unenviable task of serving as tonight's referee. He will face unforgiving scrutiny from both sides of the Clasico divide and Real Madrid's in-house TV channel has even produced a video casting aspersions over his competence.
50 mins before kickoff: Andreas Christensen was suspended in midweek but he's back in Barca's only change, lending a more robust edge to the midfield as Pedri drops to the bench.
???? BARÇA XI ????#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/Z2IxCz9eaS
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 21, 20241 hour before kickoff: Here's the Madrid lineup. Ancelotti shuffles his full-backs after their midweek exertions. Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy drop to the bench, with Lucas Vazquez and Eduardo Camavinga completing the defence either side of Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger. Tchouameni was suspended against City. Camavinga's redeployment means Luka Modric comes into midfield to partner his long-time Clasico ally Toni Kroos.
????✅ Our starting ????????!
???? @FCBarcelona#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/gLXbRepFej
1 hr 40 mins before kickoff: It was a midweek of contrasts in Europe for Madrid and Barca. Who will pull up better - an exhausted Madrid after their penalty shootout triumph over Manchester City or a wounded Barcelona, who were dumped out by Paris Saint-Germain.
2 hours before kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid have LaLiga glory in their nostrils. How Barcelona would love to provide a twist in the plot on enemy territory.
???? HOME ????#ElClásico | @emirates | #FlyBetter pic.twitter.com/iUstDGI1kn
— Real Madrid C.F. ???????????????? (@realmadriden) April 21, 2024 Real Madrid vs. Barcelona kick off timeThis LaLiga clash kicks off at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, April 21 at 9:00 p.m. local time in Madrid, Spain.
Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
Date Kickoff time USA Sun, Apr. 21 3:00 p.m. ET Canada Sun, Apr. 21 3:00 p.m. ET UK Sun, Apr. 21 8:00 p.m. BST Australia Mon, Apr. 22 5:00 a.m. AEST India Mon, Apr. 22 12:30 a.m. IST Real Madrid vs. Barcelona lineups, team newsAncelotti has not flagged up any fresh injury issues, but exertions at the Etihad Stadium have forced some rotation. Aurelien Tchouameni returns from suspension with to partner Antonio Rudiger at centre-back.
Lucas Vazquez and Eduardo Camavinga are selected in the full-back positions, with the latter's redeployment meaning a start for the great Luka Modric in midfield.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Lunin (GK) — Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudi
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Lunin (GK) — Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Camavinga — Kroos, Modric — Valverde, Bellingham, Rodrygo — Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid subs: Kepa (GK), Mario De Luis (GK), Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Joselu, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim, Mendy, Guler.
Xavi also has a fully fit squad to pick from and brings in Andreas Christensen as the solitary change to the side that lost to PSG. Pedri drops to the bench.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen (GK) — Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo — De Jong, Christensen, Gundogan — Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Barcelona subs: Inaki Pena (GK), Martinez, Ferran, Pedri, Joao Felix, Fermin, Alonso, Romeu, Vitor Roque, Roberto, Kochen, Fort.
MORE: Jude Bellingham goals for Real Madrid: Stats for England star with Los Blancos in La Liga, Champions League
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona live stream, TV channelHere's how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
Region TV Streaming USA ESPN Deportes Fubo, ESPN+, Canada RDS 2, TSN 3, TSN 4TSN+
UK Premier Sports 1 Premier Sports Player, La Liga TV Australia — Optus Sport India — JioTVUSA: This game is available on ESPN+, with Spanish language options on ESPN Deportes, and streaming on Fubo with the latter offering a FREE trial to new users.
Canada: This game is live broadcasting and streaming on TSN+. French language options are on RDS 2.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.
UK: This match will be streamed on La Liga TV and broadcast on Premier Sports 1.
If Real Madrid vs. Barcelona is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favourite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)
